Old Normals.

Sometimes,
I miss
old normals.
Waking up
in my
old
room.
Looking out
the window
and
seeing all
the blueberry bushes
either barren, covered with
leaves and berries or snow.
I think I miss my old normals
especially at this time,
when holidays start nearing.
I may be guilty of listening
to Christmas music already.

There is just something about Bing Crosby
singing "Have myself a merry little Christmas"
that provokes a nostalgic mood.
Memories
like
my
Momma making pumpkin rolls,
cookies,
carmel,
and
all sorts
of goodies
to take
caroling.
Honestly,
growing up
I may have rolled my eyes when
our annual caroling adventure
was mentioned.
But I can't wait to go home,
help mom and sing my heart out.
I can even smell
the
different spice smells
that always fill our
home
during
Thanksgiving
and
Christmas.
Ginger Bread House MASTER!
Hollar!
Yeah,
that's me.
By master
I mean
ate all
the candy before
it got
on my
ginger bread house.
oh yeah.
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!
The 1960's versions
of all those
timeless (for me)
Christmas Claymation movies.
Lets not forget sledding
and hookey bobbing...
or bobby hooking...
either way it was
still a questionable
adventure.
Especially after
my lovely
niece,
Maurya,
was ran over
by three inner tubes.

Even so there was
So much laughter.
So much Santa watching (still trying to catch him)
So much chocolate.
So many tangerines.
So much Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Harry Connick Jr.
So much of White Christmas, Its a Wonderful Life, and The Muppets Christmas Carol
So much family love.

(You know. I have had "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" on my mind a lot. What kind of message is this song sending? I mean we find out mommy is definitely not single. So what is she doing cheating on her husband with Santa Clause??! Santa would never do that. I know he wouldn't. It is very upsetting.)

My life
has been filled with
a lot
of
new normals
lately.
And that's
good.
That's life.
It should change
every once in a while.
But I like thinking of
the
old normals
every once in a while.
They make me smile
and remember how
good life has been.
Eventually,
my news
will
become
my
olds.
No
matter
if
it is
new or old.
It can be and is
always good.

And for your entertainment, old news.

First demolition derby, we were "stoked".

 Mauyra and Nola.

     Sisters always laughing when together.




Family Picture many moons ago.                                            


















 I wonder why it was such a struggle for us to have our picture taken?

 Happy naked little girls. Either that was a really big bath tub or we were really tiny.
 Family Reunion at the coast....Trust me we really are a happy family.

 Ladies of Pendleton. Chinese food and cookies on the weekend. That's all we needed. Half of us are married now...so it must have worked.

 Halloween 2010 First roommates ever! Such fun we had.

My very clever costume for Halloween in 2011

     One of my best years of College. So much fun. Such good friends. "Oh Karl!!!! Oh Hans!!!"

 
     Jordan and I. Sitting in the cool spot in the hallway before school. It was cool because we were there

 
        Mckenz and I. Enough said.

 Annie, this is one of her cutest stages. I am happy to say she is permanently in a super cute stage.

 Tubing is a very exciting thing for me. Obviously.

 Family Reunion of 2012, we are all expert fishermen and women...taught by our very own papa.

 John and I at Horse Tail Falls. I love this picture of John because he looks so dashing! I on the other hand....don't normally look half asleep...I hope.

Enjoy!
Much love,
Nola joy

 

Cold Cereal

John and I like food.
Now, we're not talking
McDonalds
or
Hostess
or
greasy,
right next to the laundry matt
Chinese Food.
(Well....we will exclude
John from the last)

Been there. Done that.

So, anyways,
like I said,
John and I
love food.
Crab,
Shrimp,
Steak,
Warm Spinach Salad,
Kale,
Broccoli,
Tomatoes,
Lemons,
Cottage Cheese,
Many Grained Bread,
Goat Cheese,
Basil,
ect...
Does
that make us
Food Snobs?
oh well.
We both
really enjoy
cooking
too.
Which can be
a bit
of a
problem.


















Seeing

as sometimes
our very
creative minds
go
very
different directions.
Though,
in the end
most
of the
time
it
works.
This
last week
has been
I admit...
very lazy.
this last
Saturday
at 10pm
exactly
I had the
hugest
craving
for
cold
cereal.

(This is my "random food craving" face, sometimes
 its bad enough too ruin sweet pictures, like this one)

Thus,
John and I
hurried
to
Hood River's
especially
creepy
WalMart.
We
consumed
nothing
but
Cold Cereal
for the next two days.
Worst choice
I've ever
made.
I will save you
from the horrors
that ensued.
Moral?
I've learned to
quiet
some of
my cravings.
and stick to being
a
food snob...
usually.
Chocolate
Brownie
Thunder
Ice Cream...
oh great.


Enjoy!
-Much Love
Nola